It was the most fun to paint, and I’ve remained in love with it since I painted it back in February.
I haven’t felt that way about any of the others for more than a week, at best.

It was also a complete departure in style from what I’ve concentrated on up until now.
Looser, messier, more fun and spontaneous…  I’ve been using my fingers a lot!

So I finally took the hint and decided to explore that avenue further.

Turns out there’s a lot down that road to enjoy, and a whole new leg of my artistic journey to experience.

I’ve been so productive using this style over the weekend, completing two canvases, and more on my work table.

The first, For Ayla, is for my niece’s 21st birthday, and the second is titled Teapot Lady in Teal.

I’m considering adding her to my etsy store.

It feels wonderful to have found a style that flows so naturally for me.

What do you think of it?

To begin with, I wasn’t even drawing or painting then.  I hardly even doodled.

So really, my three things are going to be really basic ones compared to those of a budding artist like Nellie.
I’m more like a bumbling artist

1. I discovered zentangles in July.

I’ve always thought of myself as creative, but I thought I was “meant” to write.
I topped in english, A+ all the way!
What else would I do?

Plus, although I enjoyed drawing, and could manage to create a picture that sort-of looked like the person I was sketching, it was just too much work, and I wasn’t happy with the results.

By drawing ‘tangles’, I freed myself from having to create a  realistic picture.
It didn’t take long. I think I only actually drew three designs!

I also read something on someone’s blog; art isn’t photographic.
They said “If you want a photographic image of something, then use a camera”
Art is a representation, an interpretation by the artist.

2.  I started making artist trading cards in August.

I’m surprised at how little time it took me to get the courage to create & start trading ATC’s.
There were only a couple of weeks between first reading about them and making my first trade with tammybeck on ATCsForAll.com, which is a great community.

It was an incredible revelation for me to see that other people liked what I was creating.

~ And opened my mind to allow me to see the possibility of painting with acrylics and creating something larger.

I’ve made some great friends on the ATCsForAll site, trading cards and art supplies.

If you decide to take a look and join (or are already a member), please let me know so we can connect!

3.  I finally picked up my acrylics in September and began to paint.

Originally, I saw myself beginning to paint with acrylics sometime later this year, but then the urge to just try became too great to resist.

I already had some Jo Sonja acrylics from years ago (that I’d never had the courage to use), so I grabbed a few canvases at our local shops one day and set to work.

Sooo glad I did. I feel like I’m finally becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be, and I can’t wait to see where I am this time in 2013!

Nellie (her real name is Katherine Herriman) has a few artsy tutorials on her blog, so I thought I’d share them here so that you can enjoy them, too.

• Grungy Background Painting Tutorial
• Mixed Media Art Techniques with Acrylics, PanPastels and Ranger’s Distress Ink
• Mixed Media Art Techniques with Glazes, Vintage Sewing Pattern Paper and PanPastels
  (this one’s my fave)

Hope you enjoy!

I hid it in my wardrobe because she’s here so often, and then had to ask to borrow it this week because I didn’t have a photo!

I’m so proud of it 

It’s sooo much better than my first fish, and it’s lovely to look and see how my painting has improved in such a short time.

Mum & Wonderhubby almost came to blows over whose house my first fish painting will live at, so I decided to paint one just for her.

She loves blue, so of course that had to be the main colour.

I used a page from an old phone book, pretty spotted scrapbooking paper, lacy binding, acrylic paints and charcoal pencil.

Then the green tail grew from the green spots on the body.

And she loves it

#1 ~ New Year Bird on etsy ~ $3

#2 ~ Bird in Boots ~ on etsy $3

#3 ~ Business Bird ~ on etsy $3